6.1 Companions

The following section contains valid arguments for travelling alone
or with others.

Going Alone

Travelling alone gives you much more exposure to the culture and people.
Once people have travelled alone, they are rarely interested in having a
companion for any length of time. It gives you more flexibility and freedom in
your plans since you can go wherever you want, whenever you want. Meeting
partners along the way is very easy, and I noticed that the women travelling
alone quickly adjust, plus they tend to meet people to travel with when they
need them.

Also, I met many companions that split-up after ugly arguments and
misunderstandings on the road. I find that in most cases, "It's best to leave
friends at home if you want to remain friends!"

"You are forced to meet more people for any sort of social interaction.
Many people who travel in groups, even a group of two, find much of their time
is spent dealing with the group and not the people of the country you are in.
My wife and I decided to travel separately, she travelled, and when she came
home I left. This made sure bills were paid, lawn was watered, investments
looked after, etc." <Davy Davis>

"If you do travel alone successfully, you will return with such an
enormous feeling of accomplishment and self-confidence that I sometimes
recommend a solo trip to friends as therapy. The downside is occasional
loneliness and the lack of someone to help you out of jams, but once you
move beyond this and find your own inner strengths and abilities you will
be exhilarated." <Larry Lustig>

"I have done a LOT of travelling throughout Africa & Asia and met a
lot of other travellers on the way, and would say the most important bit of
advice to give someone setting off, THE golden rule, is GO ALONE! Travelling is
a very individual thing -- a companion forces you to make compromises. The
dynamics between yourself and your companion intrude on the travelling and
diminish the experience. A companion isolates you from others -- you become a
social unit that excludes others joining in. Plus you will inevitably part
company sooner or later anyway -- save yourself the grief and the wasted
opportunities. There are many others on the road with whom you will team up for
short periods anyway. There are plenty of watering holes en-route where you can
meet up with other travellers when you find yourself needing social intercourse.
There will always be others with whom you can share expenses (i.e. renting a
car or guide) for short (< 1 month) excursions. Go on your own -- it's MUCH
more fun. The only exception I would make to the above is if you have a
wife/husband/partner without whom you would not want to be anywhere: and even
then the travelling itself is still diminished - but the relationship is more
important." <Nigel Gomm>

"One of the great truths gained while travelling comes when you immerse
yourself in the ever-changing ebb-and-flow of chaotic events around you, the
stream of teaming and amazing life going by. The constant presence and focus on
a companion anchors you too much, and you miss the mystery. If you find a
companion who shares this focus on the road, if the interaction is near zero
maintenance, if you can "be alone together", then you may have the
best of both worlds: the magic of the road, and the convenience of travelling
as two. <R.S. LaMorte>

You will meet plenty of people in the hostels, guesthouses, and hotels.
It is easy to get to know people in this situation. At times, you will
probably travel with one or more people you meet along the way for days or
months. The key is to realize everyone has widely differing interests and
budgets, even though you enjoy each other's company. Know when and how to
gracefully separate, even if just for the day, so you may remain friends
after the trip.

"After talking to many travellers along the way, the common
conclusion has been that, no matter who you leave home with, it is a good
idea to plan for doing some parts of the trip separately, if each person
is comfortable with that. Just because you are interested in doing
different things at certain stages of the trip should not mean you have to
part on bad terms and never meet up again. Besides, a few days apart does
wonders if you're getting sick of each other!" <Dave Patton>

"I found the best time to meet others was during the transportation
phase between cities. Travelers usually band together for the 'duration' and
commonly need the same types of shelter at the destination point. Once others
have moved into town and setup their accommodations, it is harder to join their
party than if you were all in it since the moment you stepped off the
bus/train/boat." <Alan Nelson>

A final note: trying to rendezvous with other travelers (and your Poste Restante
mail) in distant cities gives you deadlines that limit your ability to stay in
places that you like since you are trying to keep to a schedule, and it tends
not to work half of the time.

"Having a companion to stay with the luggage (restaurants are good
places to leave them) while you try to find that great, cheap guesthouse can be
a real boon. You are not in a good position to bargain for rates if you have
been slogging 10 kilometers in the rain with a heavy pack." <Larry
Cotter>

Choose your partner(s) well, because you will probably spend every moment
together from start to finish. This may seem obvious, but there will be times
when feelings get hurt in the decision-making process. More importantly, do you
trust them when the going gets rough? You may have to rely on them if your
health deteriorates, or an 'unsafe' situation arises. There are plenty
of travel partners who have been abandoned in the middle of the trip. Always be
sure that you could cope on your own if need be -- it may happen through
argument, sickness or any number of other factors. Be prepared.

Note: If your companion has a different passport-nationality, both of you
may not be able to get the same visas.

Make sure you have compatible personalities, objectives, interests,
budgets, spending patterns, and similar levels of fitness long before you
leave. They should be able to carry their own load, unless you want to
carry it. Read the section on "Goal or Purpose" at the
beginning of the guide.

If you are a couple, you might want to read "Traveling While Married:
How to Take a Trip with Your Spouse, and Come Back Together" by Mary-Lou Weisman.

You will need to spend some time together, like a whole weekend living out
of your backpacks and travelling around your city for 8+ hours a day using
public transportation, or go on a camping trip. Discuss objectives and how
problems will be solved. "Discuss in advance what happens if you want to
split. Would it be possible? A couple may end up with a male travelling alone
(no trouble), and a woman having to go home since she does not feel comfortable
travelling alone." <Mats Henricson>

"Make sure you understand how to do a 'time out'. There *will* be times
when your interests will not be satisfied doing things with your companion.
Plan for a day or two when you travel separately in the same city, doing things
which you would not do with the other person. It works wonders." <Henry
Mensch>

"This is harder to do than it sounds for the very reason it is so
necessary: you become dependent on each other, unable to experience the culture
alone. Do it even if you do not feel the need, you will not be sorry."
<Larry Lustig>

"Another big compatibility issue is how to handle hooking up with yet
another person, especially if there is a potential romance in the offing."
<Miriam Nadel>

If you do not have a travel partner, there are organizations that will help
you find travel mates.